Colleen McCullough

[Gannon]

@Fran & Maud

You gals really should read "Empress of Rome" it's a cracker. You don't need to have read the first two books, you can read it on it's own. If you read the three books in order you can see Quinn's writing getting better and better. The third book is IMHO outstanding. Her knowledge of Ancient Rome is great. It revolves around four major characters and jumps from each one continually. I am sure that you would both love it. She loves very strong female characters, hence the titles of each book. Not as good as Colleen but a brilliant book. I will be collecting all of her work for sure.

Hope you both had a fantastic weekend.

PS - Yes Fran my avatar is a Roman Legionary.

-- Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:12 pm --

Calling Maud, attention Maud, have you got your ears on, come back.(that's trucker talk )

Have not talked in awhile, just saying hello and seeing how you are. I have been catching up with all my Roman books that have been getting left behind. I am now however reading "One Breath Away" by Heather Gudenkauf. Don't know if you have read it or not but I am quite impressed. I am only half of the way through. Gudenkauf uses short succinct chapters to keep the book at a nice pace and each chapter is narrated in first person by a different character. As you probably know from past posts, I love this type of writing.

Have you been enjoying the cold snap. It was 3 degrees here the other morning.

I just recently read an article on Sylvia Plath. After reading the article, I am very interested in reading "The Bell Jar". Have you read it? I went to order a signed first edition and found that they ranged from 4000 to 15000 dollars depending on condition. Just a little bit out of my price range . I would really like to know what you thought of it, if you have read it.

I am so glad that Fran, loved "The Hypnotist". The pressure is intense to stay as her number one recommender (that's if I still am). I will have to wait until I finish "One Breath Away" before recommending it.

A little book store has opened up here, and I am going to check it out soon. It is the only book store in our little town. They were giving away free coffee the other day to support International Bookstore day but I could not get there. My Aunty went and bought me a paperback copy of "The Thorn Birds". I am very interested to see what their stock is like, I hope they have some old classics.

Well I hope you are well. What are you reading at the moment? Have you finished TN7? I am going to order it very soon, along with "Shades of Grey".

[Maud Fitch]

Calling Maud, attention Maud, have you got your ears on, come back.(that's trucker talk )

.....Have you been enjoying the cold snap. It was 3 degrees here the other morning.

.....I just recently read an article on Sylvia Plath. After reading the article, I am very interested in reading "The Bell Jar". Have you read it? I went to order a signed first edition and found that they ranged from 4000 to 15000 dollars depending on condition. Just a little bit out of my price range . I would really like to know what you thought of it, if you have read it.

.....A little book store has opened up here, and I am going to check it out soon. It is the only book store in our little town. They were giving away free coffee the other day to support International Bookstore day but I could not get there. My Aunty went and bought me a paperback copy of "The Thorn Birds". I am very interested to see what their stock is like, I hope they have some old classics.

.....Have you finished TN7? I am going to order it very soon, along with "Shades of Grey".

I'm baaaaack - after a considerable absence which is of my own making, namely work-work-work.
Yep, it is very cold here in the morning; delightfully unusual and I love it.
It's the Ekka Show holiday today and I guess I should be resting, reading or sleeping but here I am posting.

Love the trucker talk, Gannon. I can remember a song ('Convoy' I think) where they used to say rubber ducky and smokey etc. Wonder if there's a whole new 21st century set of sayings to confuse the Law?

Don't know Sylvia Plath but phew <whistle> $15,000 for a signed first edition is definitely tooo rich for my blood.
Have you got a rich uncle who perhaps could leave you a considerable bequest (e.g. loads of money) in his Will?

Yippee!!!!! I always love to hear when a bookstore opens. If you give them your patronage they will try really hard to stock what you want or get it in. In a small shopping centre near me, a woman ran a second-hand bookshop and was a mine of information. To survive, she used to be a 'gap filler' take out tenancy on short leases between big tenants. Subsequently she moved from shop to shop quite frequently! The sad thing was that she died of cancer recently and nobody has taken on her role. Another of life's eccentrics gone.

(I'm on a loan laptop and it's correcting my spelling as I type - never happened on my old computer)

How many of you reading this have grabbed a copy of one of Colleen McCullough's works or Jasper Fforde's "Shades Of Grey"? Hurry up! You don't know what you're missing!

[Gannon]

Calling Maud, attention Maud, have you got your ears on, come back.(that's trucker talk )

.....Have you been enjoying the cold snap. It was 3 degrees here the other morning.

.....I just recently read an article on Sylvia Plath. After reading the article, I am very interested in reading "The Bell Jar". Have you read it? I went to order a signed first edition and found that they ranged from 4000 to 15000 dollars depending on condition. Just a little bit out of my price range . I would really like to know what you thought of it, if you have read it.

.....A little book store has opened up here, and I am going to check it out soon. It is the only book store in our little town. They were giving away free coffee the other day to support International Bookstore day but I could not get there. My Aunty went and bought me a paperback copy of "The Thorn Birds". I am very interested to see what their stock is like, I hope they have some old classics.

.....Have you finished TN7? I am going to order it very soon, along with "Shades of Grey".

I'm baaaaack - after a considerable absence which is of my own making, namely work-work-work.
Yep, it is very cold here in the morning; delightfully unusual and I love it.
It's the Ekka Show holiday today and I guess I should be resting, reading or sleeping but here I am posting.

Love the trucker talk, Gannon. I can remember a song ('Convoy' I think) where they used to say rubber ducky and smokey etc. Wonder if there's a whole new 21st century set of sayings to confuse the Law?

Don't know Sylvia Plath but phew <whistle> $15,000 for a signed first edition is definitely tooo rich for my blood.
Have you got a rich uncle who perhaps could leave you a considerable bequest (e.g. loads of money) in his Will?

Yippee!!!!! I always love to hear when a bookstore opens. If you give them your patronage they will try really hard to stock what you want or get it in. In a small shopping centre near me, a woman ran a second-hand bookshop and was a mine of information. To survive, she used to be a 'gap filler' take out tenancy on short leases between big tenants. Subsequently she moved from shop to shop quite frequently! The sad thing was that she died of cancer recently and nobody has taken on her role. Another of life's eccentrics gone.

(I'm on a loan laptop and it's correcting my spelling as I type - never happened on my old computer)

How many of you reading this have grabbed a copy of one of Colleen McCullough's works or Jasper Fforde's "Shades Of Grey"? Hurry up! You don't know what you're missing!

Oh Maud it its great to hear from you. You must be busy busy busy with your work work work. I am so glad you have found the time to give us a flyby with an update (more trucker talk ).

Hope you are enjoying the Ekka. Have you been on any of the rides, or more importantly are there any book stalls?
I love the cold as well but I think it is moving on, it's not cold here at all this afternoon.

No rich Uncles unfortuanately, I am going to have to settle for a cheaper edition. After reading the article, I really want to read "The Bell Jar". I wonder if Fran has read it. Fran are you tuned in to this channel fluffy duck(more truckie talk ).

Yes, I can't wait to visit this bookshop and hopefully strike up a friendship with the owner. It's great to have a bookshop here again although my Aunty said it's very small. I think "cosy" was the word she used.

I would have loved to sit down and have a coffee with the lady from the book shops. I bet she would have been a wealth of information regarding the book world.

Hope you have a wonderful day off and remember if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

-- Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:44 pm --

Calling Maud, attention Maud, have you got your ears on, come back.(that's trucker talk )

.....Have you been enjoying the cold snap. It was 3 degrees here the other morning.

.....I just recently read an article on Sylvia Plath. After reading the article, I am very interested in reading "The Bell Jar". Have you read it? I went to order a signed first edition and found that they ranged from 4000 to 15000 dollars depending on condition. Just a little bit out of my price range . I would really like to know what you thought of it, if you have read it.

.....A little book store has opened up here, and I am going to check it out soon. It is the only book store in our little town. They were giving away free coffee the other day to support International Bookstore day but I could not get there. My Aunty went and bought me a paperback copy of "The Thorn Birds". I am very interested to see what their stock is like, I hope they have some old classics.

.....Have you finished TN7? I am going to order it very soon, along with "Shades of Grey".

I'm baaaaack - after a considerable absence which is of my own making, namely work-work-work.
Yep, it is very cold here in the morning; delightfully unusual and I love it.
It's the Ekka Show holiday today and I guess I should be resting, reading or sleeping but here I am posting.

Love the trucker talk, Gannon. I can remember a song ('Convoy' I think) where they used to say rubber ducky and smokey etc. Wonder if there's a whole new 21st century set of sayings to confuse the Law?

Don't know Sylvia Plath but phew <whistle> $15,000 for a signed first edition is definitely tooo rich for my blood.
Have you got a rich uncle who perhaps could leave you a considerable bequest (e.g. loads of money) in his Will?

Yippee!!!!! I always love to hear when a bookstore opens. If you give them your patronage they will try really hard to stock what you want or get it in. In a small shopping centre near me, a woman ran a second-hand bookshop and was a mine of information. To survive, she used to be a 'gap filler' take out tenancy on short leases between big tenants. Subsequently she moved from shop to shop quite frequently! The sad thing was that she died of cancer recently and nobody has taken on her role. Another of life's eccentrics gone.

(I'm on a loan laptop and it's correcting my spelling as I type - never happened on my old computer)

How many of you reading this have grabbed a copy of one of Colleen McCullough's works or Jasper Fforde's "Shades Of Grey"? Hurry up! You don't know what you're missing!

Oh Maud it its great to hear from you. You must be busy busy busy with your work work work. I am so glad you have found the time to give us a flyby with an update (more trucker talk ).

Hope you are enjoying the Ekka. Have you been on any of the rides, or more importantly are there any book stalls?
I love the cold as well but I think it is moving on, it's not cold here at all this afternoon.

No rich Uncles unfortuanately, I am going to have to settle for a cheaper edition. After reading the article, I really want to read "The Bell Jar". I wonder if Fran has read it. Fran are you tuned in to this channel fluffy duck(more truckie talk ).

Yes, I can't wait to visit this bookshop and hopefully strike up a friendship with the owner. It's great to have a bookshop here again although my Aunty said it's very small. I think "cosy" was the word she used.

I would have loved to sit down and have a coffee with the lady from the book shops. I bet she would have been a wealth of information regarding the book world.

Hope you have a wonderful day off and remember if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

[Fran]

@Hello Maud & Gannon
Hope you are both well & happy.
What a lot I learn from you two .... dagwood dog, don't mean to insult your national cuisine but that looks positively disgusting on Google but maybe it just doesn't take a great photo!
Ekka Show ... I thought you were talking about a one day show but this seems to be a major Event, you Aussies doen't do things by halves do you?

Maud, I loved your story about the bookshop lady moving from premises to premises. I could just imagine Helene Hanff doing something like that.

Gannon, No I haven't read The Bell Jar but I've read a good deal of her poetry .... The Bell Jar was her only novel & I believe she committed suicide soon after finishing it. Sad lady, very sad, sad life
You must let me know if The Bell Jar should be added to my long, long TBR

[Gannon]

@Hello Maud & Gannon
Hope you are both well & happy.
What a lot I learn from you two .... dagwood dog, don't mean to insult your national cuisine but that looks positively disgusting on Google but maybe it just doesn't take a great photo!
Ekka Show ... I thought you were talking about a one day show but this seems to be a major Event, you Aussies doen't do things by halves do you?

Maud, I loved your story about the bookshop lady moving from premises to premises. I could just imagine Helene Hanff doing something like that.

Gannon, No I haven't read The Bell Jar but I've read a good deal of her poetry .... The Bell Jar was her only novel & I believe she committed suicide soon after finishing it. Sad lady, very sad, sad life
You must let me know if The Bell Jar should be added to my long, long TBR

Howdy there Fran. Dagwood Dogs are actually delicious.

Yes Sylvia Plath led a very sad but very interesting life. I knew virtually nothing about her until I read this excellent article on her. That is why I want to read "The Bell Jar". Although it is a fictional novel, it is said to be obvious that the story is her autobiography. I will let you know what I think.

[Fran]

@Gannon
I'll trust your taste buds on the dogwood dog but looking at it on google I can see why you advise if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

[Gannon]

@Gannon
I'll trust your taste buds on the dogwood dog but looking at it on google I can see why you advise if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

Hahaha, that's correct. It's really just a sausage in the middle of an enormous amount of batter.

Ps - Fran you have to read "Protect and Defend", you will love it.

[Fran]

@Gannon
I'll trust your taste buds on the dogwood dog but looking at it on google I can see why you advise if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

Hahaha, that's correct. It's really just a sausage in the middle of an enormous amount of batter.

Ps - Fran you have to read "Protect and Defend", you will love it.

Oh I definitely will .... it's on my list & the list doesn't lie

[Gannon]

@Gannon
I'll trust your taste buds on the dogwood dog but looking at it on google I can see why you advise if you are going to go on the rides do not have a dagwood dog beforehand.

Hahaha, that's correct. It's really just a sausage in the middle of an enormous amount of batter.

Ps - Fran you have to read "Protect and Defend", you will love it.

Oh I definitely will .... it's on my list & the list doesn't lie

I don't want to enlarge your TBR list but "Balance of Power" is nearly as good. Ok Ok, no more.

[Maud Fitch]

Love you two!! !! !!

Hey, Fran, don't believe a single word Gannon says about dagwood dogs...they are disgusting. I've eaten my fair share but now older and wiser I steer clear of such artificial inedibles. Picture a hotdog on a stick with inch thick batter and the top dipped into tomato sauce. Eewwwhhh.

Aside from that, the Ekka (or Exhibition Show) is over 10 days, full-on country meets city attractions. I think other countries call them 'county fairs'. Did you check out the showbag pavilion, you can pay AU$25 for junk food samples and vouchers for more junk food. The farm animals, woodchopping and showjumping are the redeeming factor.

Don't ask me about reading 'cos I haven't done much at all ~ oh well, the weekend is here. Have a good one!

[Gannon]

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

I finally got around to reading Colleen's debut novel "Tim" and I loved every page. I found myself falling in love with the character of Tim. It is funny how society automatically jumps to conclusions and assumptions when it encounters anything that is outside the norm. What is a harmless and genuine friendship between Tim and Mary has family and friends disgusted when they learn of Mary's age. The ending is great where Tim and Mary's love for each other wins out and my faith in true love, no matter what the circumstances, is renewed.

An amazing book for a debut.

Just slightly of topic again, Fran or Maud, or anybody really, have you read "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. I know it was shortlisted for the Booker and received mixed reviews from the press. I am loving it, I am about 2/3 of the way through it and it is one of my favourite reads for a good while. The six different stories almost seem to be written by different authors. I can't wait to finish it today.

[Maud Fitch]

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
I finally got around to reading Colleen's debut novel "Tim" and I loved every page. I found myself falling in love with the character of Tim. It is funny how society automatically jumps to conclusions and assumptions when it encounters anything that is outside the norm. What is a harmless and genuine friendship between Tim and Mary has family and friends disgusted when they learn of Mary's age. The ending is great where Tim and Mary's love for each other wins out and my faith in true love, no matter what the circumstances, is renewed.

Great novel, great movie - have you seen the 1979 movie? A very young Mel Gibson plays Tim.

No, I've haven't read "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell but I have read his "Black Swan Green" which was also nominated for Man Booker Prize. It's a little bit different, a little bit out-there but hugely enjoyable narrative.

Hope you're getting enough leisure time to read to your heart's content. Has anyone read another Jasper Fforde book yet? As per usual, I'm falling behind with my TBR list except I did enjoy Hilary Mantel's second book in the Wolf Hall trilogy "Bring Up The Bodies".

It's Sunday night here so adios amigos for another week!

[DATo]

No, I've haven't read "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell but I have read his "Black Swan Green" which was also nominated for Man Booker Prize. It's a little bit different, a little bit out-there but hugely enjoyable narrative.

Maude,

I offer the guardedly optimistic view that you would enjoy Cloud Atlas. It has various elements which blend harmoniously to create a very nice effect. It is an epic journey that begins in the mid 1800's and extends into our distant future. There are a total of six vignettes which, much like The Red Violin, are tied together by the underlying object-motif of an unfinished manuscript found in the 1800's. The book can loosely be described as sci-fi but on a scale of 1 - 10 I would rank the sci-fi elements as being a 2 or 3 and they appear, as one would expect, in the "Distant-Future" vignette.

It is my understanding that a movie is currently being made and will be released in February. I've watched the trailers and, judging from them, both I and the person who leant me the book feel the movie will be very good and a respectable representation of the novel. This would be an excellent opportunity to both read the novel and later see a movie which, based upon what I've seen of the trailers, appears to be very faithful to the book

[Fran]

@Maud
Hi Maud, been missing you.

I've been hearing a lot of mention of Cloud Atlas recently .... now with the three of you recommending it has to move up the TBR

[Gannon]

@Maud

Thank God you are still alive, Fran and I have been FRANtic with worry.

@Dato

Could not have put it any better, great description. I did not get to finsish it yesterday but I will today. Did not know it was being made into a movie. I have my doubts that the novel can be crammed into feature film length without losing the heart of the story. Maybe they could change it slightly and have the movie revolve around the interview with Sonmi starting with the opening scene, much like "Interview with the Vampire".